This sheet of translated text was carried by American soldiers during World War II in the event of an emergency. The message was translated into French, Annamese, Thai, Lao, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.

Interview conducted by Nathan Ferrance. Adelard Dusseault enlisted in the United States Air Force in the spring of 1953. He went to basic training at Sampson Air Force Base in New York. From there he was transferred to Lackland Air Force Base...

Interview conducted by Marcy Cain. Arpad J. Ostheimer enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1947 just after graduation from high school. He joined because he wanted to learn about aeronautics, and loved airplanes. After basic training in Texas, he...

Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Kilgore enlisted with the National Guard in 1937. When Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941, he became activated with the U.S. Army. When he began basic training in the army, he was promoted to sergeant and then...

Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. David S. Powell enlisted in the U.S. Air Force shortly after his graduation from Yale University in 1952. He had come from a long line of family members who had fought or assisted in war efforts over the...

Interview conducted by Vincent Roche. Donald Martin was drafted into the U.S. Navy in the spring of 1944. He went to Bainbridge, MD for basic training, and then received an addition 12 weeks of specialized training as a navy hospital corpsman. ...

Interview conducted by Amy Arsenault. Edward J. McKenna was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952, at the age of 20. He went to Fort Dix, NJ for basic training, and then went on to advanced infantry training. He also attended the Defense Language...

Interview conducted by Shannon Harvey. Fernand Philippon was drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1943. He went to basic training at the Sampson training base (NY), and from there served in the Pacific Theatre of operations during World War II. He was...

Interview conducted by Don Aliff. George Cain enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in December of 1941. He was a senior at Georgetown University at the time, and wanted to become an officer in the army. The summer following his enlistment, he...

Interview conducted by John Ault. George Slack enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in the fall of 1943. After basic training, he went to Wheeler Field (Miss.) for pre-flight training, and then Illinois for radio school. After completion of radio...

Interview conducted by Ryan P. Kelley. George R. Kelley enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in July of 1942 upon graduating from high school. Although he originally wanted to join the U.S. Navy, he notes that it was a positive move for...

Interview conducted by Jeanne Marie Christie. Hank Riccio enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps shortly after Pearl Harbor was bombed. He chose the Marines, because they were the “best”. He went to basic training at Parris Island (S.C.) and then was...

Interview conducted by Heather Walsh. Howard Whittaker joined the U.S. Marines in 1942. In January of 1943 he left for basic training at Parris Island. He described the indoctrination as a Marine as difficult. He then went to advanced training...